Tank car



J. A. C RISTA Julie 15,1943.

TANK CAR Filed Oct. 22, 1941 Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATES ra'rENr OFFICE TANK CAR Joe A. Crista, Needles, Calif. Application October 22, 1941, Serial No. 416,129

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a tank car of a type provided with means for draining the tank, and it is a particular object of the invention to provide the tank with a discharge pipe having means therein to prevent agitation of fluid within the pipe.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby an anti-freeze liquid may be delivered within the discharge pipe for the tank to protect against freezing the controlling valve and kindred elements within the discharge pipe.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved tank car whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. 7

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, and of a somewhat diagrammatic character, illustrating a tank car constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a View of the baffle plate as comprised in Figure 1, but unapplied; and

Figure 3 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view illustrating a drain plug as herein embodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, T denotes a tank of a character comprised in a tank car structure and which includes a conventional dome D. The top wall I of the dome D, to one side of its axial center, is provided with the usual filling opening 2 normally closed by a cap or cover 3 held in place by the bolts 4. The dome D is also provided in its top wall I with a second opening 5 normally closed by a cap or cover 6.

Underlying the opening 5 is a housing H of desired dimensions and which has a side wall 1 substantially defining the opening 5 with the upper portion of said sidewall 1 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the under surface of the top wall I,

Hingedly connected, as at 8, to the outer face of the top wall I, to one side of the filling opening 2, is an end portion of an elongated rigid strap 9, preferably of steel, and of a length to extend radially across the applied lid or cap 3 and radially across the applied cover or cap 6. The outer or free end portion of this strap 9 terminates in an angular portion H) which engages in a conventional manner with an outstanding staple ll carried by a side wall l2 of the dome D. A shackle lock M or the like is engaged through the staple H outwardly of the extension l0 whereby the strap 9 is effectively locked in a position to prevent unauthorized re moval of either the lid or cap 3 or the cover or cap 6. It is to be noted that when the strap 9 is in holding position it is disposed over and in direct contact with the bolts 4 to thus prevent unauthorized removal of such bolts.

The bottom of the tank T, below the opening 5 in the top Wall of the dome, is provided with a drain opening I5. This opening i5 discharges into a drain or discharge pipe [6 depending from the tank T. Leading from this pipe IE is a carryoff line i! of desired length and of preferred material. The lower or outer end portion of the pipe I6 is provided with peripheral threads l8 to permit the application of a suitable cap thereto after the line I! has been removed, and which is particularly desirable when the tank is in transit. The pipe l6, substantially midway its ends, is provided with an inwardly disposed annular flange 19 which provides a mounting for a barrel seat 20. Coacting with this seat 20 is a valve member 21 which, in its opening movement, travels toward the tank T. This valve member 2|, at its axial center, has depending therefrom an elongated post or rod 22, the lower end of which is suitably coupled, as at 23, with a piston 24. This piston 24 snugly fits and works within a cylinder 25 supported within the lower portion of the pipe It by a conventional spider structure 26.

The cylinder 25, at a point at all times below or in advance of the piston 24, has in communication therewith a line or conduit 2! which extends out through the side wall of the pipe [6 and has suitably coupled therewith an end portion of a flexible pipe line 28 of required length. The outer end portion of this line 28 carries a valved coupling 29 whereby the line 28 may be connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure when it is desired to move the piston 24 in a direction to lift the valve member 2| from its seat-2e to permit the content of the tank '1 to drain or be discharged out through the pipe It. When the air pressure. within the cylinder 25 is released, as by opening the coupling 29, or as a result of the cutting or mutilation of the line 28, the valve member 2| will return to its seat under the action of. the expansible coil spring 39 within the cylinder 25 and interposed between the piston 24 and the upper head 3i of the cylinder 25. Operatively engaged, as at 32', with the valve member 2| is the lower end portion of an operating rod 33. As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, this rod 33 threads through a bearing block 34 operatively supported within the upper portion of the pipe I6. The operative connection between the valve member 2| and the rod 33, as well as the threading engagement of the rod 33 with the block 34 and the mounting of the block 34, may be in any manner desired, although it is preferred that these features be in accordance with the particular features of construction described and illustrated in application Serial No. 316,403, filed January 30, 1940, now Patent No. 2,301,378, granted November 10, 1942, and of which the present application is a continuationin-part.

Operatively connected, as at 35, with the upper end portion of the rod 33 is the lower end portion of a second rod 33. This rod 36 is of a length to extend up through the bottom wall 31 of the housing H for coaction with the applied cover or cap 6 to hold the valve member 2| normally seated or to allow said valve member 2| to be manually lifted when the cover or cap 6 is removed. The detailed features in connection with this rod 36 and the parts associated therewith are also preferably similar to what is disclosed in the pending application hereinbefore referred to, and of which the present application is a continuation-in-part.

Any water which may be in the gasoline or oil within the tank T settles to the bottom of the tank and around the valve member 2| and this water in low temperatures under ordinary conditions would freeze, thus interferring with the operation of the valve member 2| when it is desired to drain the tank T. Therefore, in low temperatures, it is of decided advantage to substantially fill the pipe I'B with an anti-freeze compound between the closed valve member 2| and the bafile plate B which loosely fits within the upper portion of the pipe I6. This baffle plate B, as is illustrated in Figure 1, is loosely applied and is supported in desired position within the opening I5. This bafile plate B has a central opening a. through which the rod 33 freely passes and the plate B is also provided with perforations 1) over substantially its entire area.

The baflle plate B is also provided with the diametrically opposed recesses c to allow a hook or other implement to be readily engaged with the plate B in the event the flow through the perforations b should be restricted or such openings plugged from any cause. The recesses also provide suitable clearance for the. pipe 12 in the application or removal of the bafile plate B, or in the raising of the'same to facilitate cleaning. It is also to be pointed out that the opening a is of a diameter suflicient to allow the desired raising of the baflle plate B from its applied or working position.

A desired anti-freeze compound is put within the upper portion of the pipe I6 before filling the tank T. As illustrated in Figure 1, a filling pipe d leads from the opening 2 in the top wall I of the dome D and discharges within the upper portion of the pipeIB through the drain opening I5 in the bottom of the tank T. This pipe d is supported in place by suitably positioned brackets c.

It is required, under the, present regulations, that the lower or discharge endof the pipe I6 be open during the filling of the tank so that it can be readily determined whether or not the valve member II is tight upon its. seat 20, to prevent flow thereby; After'the tank T' has been filled,

the opening at the bottom of the pipe I6 is closed by a suitable cap or plug as hereinbefore stated. After this lower end of the pipe I6 has been closed, the portion of the pipe below the valve member 2| is also substantially filled with an anti-freeze compound. The wall of the pipe |6 below, but immediately adjacent to the flange I9, is provided with a filling opening f which is normally closed by a removable plug g. The lower portion of the pipe I 6 is provided with a drain opening it in which is threaded a plug 1'. This plug i is provided at its inner or inserted end portion with an angular port It (Figure 3) whereby means is provided for draining out the anti-freeze compound without entirely removing the plug 2', and thus avoiding the resultant hazard should the plug 2 be entirely removed.

The anti-freeze compound will remain below the baffle plate B due to such compound being of a heavier specific gravity than the tank content, and the baffle plate B serves to prevent agitation of the anti-freeze compound during the filling of the tank T, which would otherwise result in the surging of the anti-freeze compound up within th gasoline or oil.

When it is desired to drain out the content of the tank T, the plug 2 is adjusted outwardly sufilciently to open the flow through the port It. This outward adjustment of the plug 1' also provides means to indicate whether or not the valve member 2| is leaking to an extent to be dangerous to remove the cap or plug at the lower end of the pipe iii. If there should be such leakage past the valve member 2 I, the tank T must be pumped empty through the opening or manhole 2 in the top wal1 I of the dome D.

It is also to be particularly pointed out that the lack of circulation within the pipe I6, when the valve member 2| is seated and the lower end of said pipe I6 is closed, holds the anti-freeze compound or liquid in effective position and it is to be also pointed out that the volume of the anti-freeze compound or liquid directly below the opening I5 prevents freezing above the pipe I6 even though the other area of the bottom of the tank T does freeze the water which has settled within the tank T.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a tank car constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated. It is also to be understood that the construction and arrangement of parts may be changed or varied and I, therefore, do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out the invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1., A valve structure comprising a substantially vertically disposed housing for the passage of fluid therethrough, the lower end of thehousing being open for discharge therefrom, said housing having an internal valve seat at its central portion, and a valve member within the housing movable toward and from the seat, the wall of the housing below the valve seat being provided with a filling opening and with a draining opening, said filling opening and draining opening being separate from the lower open discharge end of the housing, the filling opening being immediately adjacent to the valve seat and the draining opening being at the lower extremity. of the housing and in closeproximity to the lower'open'end of the housing, means for closing the filling opening, and means for closing the draining opening.

2. In combination with a container having a discharge opening in its bottom portion, a housing depending from said container and with which the discharge opening communicates, said housing being provided below its upper end with an internal valve seat, a valve member within the housing movable toward and from the valve seat, and means for delivering an anti-freeze medium within the housing above the valve seat and through the discharge opening of the container, said delivering means extending down the housing to prevent agitation of fluid within th portion of the housing above the valve seat, the central portion of the baffie plate being provided with an opening, and an operating rod for the valve member extending into the housing through said opening of the baflle plate, the diameter of the opening being materially in excess of the major diameter of the operating rod to permit tilting of the bafiie plate.

4. In combination with a container having a discharge opening in its bottom portion and a filling opening in its top portion, a housing depending from the container and with which the discharge opening communicates, said housing being provided below its upper end with an internal valve seat, a valve member within the housing movable toward and from the valve seat, a pipe for delivering anti-freeze within the housing above the valve member, and means for securing said pipe to the upper and lower portions of the container, with said pipe extending downwardly through the container and leading from a point within the filling opening to a point within the discharge opening.

JOE A. CRISTA. 

